The canon is ready for appropriation because it is a way of exposing a larger proportion of readers to classical literature. Although the themes in these works such as Jane Eyre are timeless the context and the language make them increasingly inaccessible to the modern reader. An appropriation of Jane Eyre, the Eyre Affair is a bridge between the modern reader and the canon. Without appropriation the value and significance of classical works may be lost to future generations.
Jane Eyre is a known as a classic, and was written by Charlotte Bronte in 1847. Jane Eyre is not a typical heroine. She is not beautiful or rich. She is an orphan and has had to learn to be independent and make her own choices. Love vs. independence and self respect is an important theme in Jane Eyre. Jane refuses to live with Mr Rochester even though they love each other because he already has a wife and she feels that she would lose respect for herself if she did so.
English: Title page, first edition, en:Jane Eyre.
The Salutation public house in Higher Chatham Stre...
English: Mrs. Reed torments young Jane Eyre in Suf...In chapter 27 Jane tells herself, ÃÂThe more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myselfÃÂ. Another theme is the relationship between the sexes. Most of the men in JaneÃÂs life try to dominate her. It was a patriarchal society and Jane recognizes that she needs to be treated as an equal in a relationship and maintain a degree of independence. She wants respect as well as love from her partner and she doesnÃÂt settle for anything less. These are timeless themes and are still very relevant today. It is significant that the author of the novel is a woman. Charlotte Bronte used the pseudonym of Currer Bell because as she said ÃÂwe had a vague impression that authoresses are liable to...